PASTOR JOHN COLLINS, REDEEMING THE GOSPEL: THE SKINNY, 411, IG.....GOSSIP
From John Collins Ministries:
I heard it through the grapevine, word on the street is, rumor has it, have you heard, what’s the latest, give me the scoop, the skinny, the 411, the juicy news, the dirt, good old fashioned gossip…the conversations we all live for, right? There are magazines, TV shows, reality shows, locker rooms, bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens, cafeterias, basements, bathrooms, internet sites, cell phones all devoted to spreading the news of the actions of others, whether famous or not. We do it ourselves. We are a world that thrives on gossip.“And besides they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house, and not only idle but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not.” 1 Timothy 5:13 (NKJV).“But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness.” 2 Timothy 2:16 (NKJV).“Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse; He who guards his soul will be far from them.” Proverbs 22:5 (NKJV).
There are many people that make their careers on photos and stories about the dirt on others. We lap it up like pigs. We spew it out like geysers. We love it, we live it, we don’t even notice when we are doing it. Most people couldn’t tell you exactly what gossip is. They are just asking about Bob and Sue, right? Wondering if they are doing okay and ignoring that thrill that comes from finding out Sue just filed for divorce because she caught Bob cheating on her with Beth.
Are our own lives so boring that we must entertain ourselves with the pain and humiliation of others? Do we really need to know who is doing what and why? Is it any of our business? Isn’t there something we could be doing that is productive and good? Isn’t there a wholesome way we could converse with each other? Is it really any of our business to discuss the sex lives of others? Is it proper to discuss our own sex lives with others? Is there nothing that is sacred anymore? Is there nothing we will not expose about someone just because we can?
Gossip is the same as murder in the eyes of the Lord. It harms people, it destroys reputations and it is just an awful way to spend your time. It is a part of society today and it is shameful and wrong. Think of your conversations, consider your words and know that idle speech is of the devil. We should all cast away our joy in gossip and learn to bridle our tongues. Be careful of what you say and what you readily listen to. You don’t have to be polite and listen to gossip. You can easily say, “I prefer not to hear that.” Life can be easily simplified by not engaging in idle talk.
“Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.” Ephesians 4:29 (NKJV).
